The Bible Blog

1189 posts

Exodus 14

Exodus 14

Exodus 14 – The crossing of the Israelites of the Red Sea most people know about.  And who can forget Charlton Heston as Moses in the epic…

Exodus 13

Exodus 13

Exodus 13 – We want to get from here to there in the least amount of time possible.  We’re wired that way I think, or at least…

Exodus 12

Exodus 12

Exodus 12 – There are many aspects to the instructions given to the people of Israel as the final act of God’s power was about to hit…

Exodus 11

Exodus 11

Exodus 11 – Let’s revisit a moment earlier in Moses’ calling.  If you recall, when God showed up at the burning bush it was a moment of…

Exodus 10

Exodus 10

Exodus 10 – The continued hardening of Pharaoh’s heart had also blinded him to the living God.  Destruction beyond what was even imagined had come in waves. …

Exodus 9

Exodus 9

Exodus 9 – Patience and obedience – 2 words that are challenges for any of us.  People say, ‘Don’t pray for patience because God will throw you…

Exodus 8

Exodus 8

Exodus 8 – Plagues rained down heavily upon the Egyptians due to Pharaoh’s hard heart.  What began with the Nile turning to blood, was followed by frogs,…

Exodus 7

Exodus 7

Exodus 7 – The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was something God had reminded Moses of time and time again…

Exodus 6

Exodus 6

Exodus 6 – There are many times God calls us to a task far greater than we believe can be accomplished.  Just think of the prayers you…

Exodus 5

Exodus 5

Exodus 5 – To get a better idea of how daring the entire request Moses made to Pharaoh was, it’s important to understand the thinking and theology of…

Exodus 4

Exodus 4

Exodus 4 – Sometimes God calls us back to the very places we have fled or even were delivered from.  Now, hear me out on this.  We…

Exodus 3

Exodus 3

Exodus 3 – “Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Where can I flee from Your presence?” – Psalm 139:7 40 years of Moses’ life he was…

Exodus 2

Exodus 2

Exodus 2 – Even in the highest oppression, God has a plan.  Hang on to that thought if you are currently struggling and questioning what is transpiring. …

Exodus 1

Exodus 1

Exodus 1 – Affliction brings 2 results:  Growth or Resignation. As the magnificent story of the Israelites freedom from Egyptian bondage unravels through the book of Exodus,…

Judges 21

Judges 21

Judges 21 – The people of Israel went from mess to mess all based upon their own thinking.  From this crazy story there was no forward thought, long term…

Judges 20

Judges 20

Judges 20 – All of Israel gathered together in order to figure out how to handle the vile situation concerning the men of Gibeah.  Ultimately, civil war would breakout…

Judges 19

Judges 19

Judges 19 – In a horrifying scene of events, we get a picture for just how bad it has gotten within Israel. It would not be as surprising to…

Judges 18

Judges 18

Judges 18 – During the taking of the land under Joshua, the Danites were given land to meet their needs.  However, this tribe failed to follow God’s direction and…

Judges 17

Judges 17

Judges 17 – It is the strangest of stories.  Judges 17 sets the table for the remaining chapters with Israel’s moral decline and the people following their own ways…

Judges 16

Judges 16

Judges 16 – We like to compartmentalize.  We take things, events and push them back into compartments of our mind where we simply don’t deal with them any longer. …

Judges 15

Judges 15

Judges 15 – Samson continued to act within the flesh.  Driven by his own wants and desires, when things didn’t go his way, he took matters into his own…

Judges 14

Judges 14

Judges 14 – Samson saw with his eyes, wanted in his heart and in the end did what he wanted.  To me, it’s interesting this is the first story…

Judges 13

Judges 13

Judges 13 – The cycle of sinfulness continued.  The Israelites left God, followed their own terms, judgment came, they repented.  This circular theme is found over and over again in the…

Judges 12

Judges 12

Judges 12 – We all have them in our lives.  They are the most challenging people.  Chronic complainers never see anything good; always go for the worst scenario; they…

Judges 11

Judges 11

Judges 11 – The story of Jephthah is both encouraging and shocking. We read of a man born of a prostitute, driven to be an outcast, became a mighty…

Judges 10

Judges 10

Judges 10 – There’s a phrase used describing a long journey or long period of time.  Sometimes people say, “I’m in this for the long haul”.  To me, there…

Judges 9

Judges 9

Judges 9 – Our personal goals can control our actions. When there is power and position at play, those actions can be reckless. After Gideon destroyed the altar of…

Judges 8

Judges 8

Judges 8 – Warren Wiersbe observes, “Gideon’s choosing to avenge himself could have been the beginning of his backsliding.” Gideon’s story continues with interesting events that follow after the…

Judges 7

Judges 7

Judges 7 – “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” – Zechariah 4:6 Size matters.  We tend to look at numbers…

Judges 6

Judges 6

Judges 6 – The pattern continues.  “Again Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord…”  Once again they would need to hit rock bottom before they would cry…

Judges 5

Judges 5

Judges 5 – Leadership is a gift.  Wise leadership can be rare.  The role of leadership within any sphere of life is important.  When leadership is undertaking the work…

Judges 4

Judges 4

Judges 4 – Oh the cycle continues.  The people were blessed and delivered, their hearts grew cold to God.  They did evil in His sight; they endured oppression. God…

Judges 3

Judges 3

Judges 3 – “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him…” Judges 3:10 This phrase is simply a powerful reminder of the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon…

Judges 2

Judges 2

Judges 2 – The stage is set. The unraveling of Israel is about to take place as leaders would rise and lead people forward.  When the leader passed, the…

Judges 1

Judges 1

Judges 1 – What began under Moses would be carried by his successor Joshua.  The land of Canaan would become the land of the Israelites.  The book of Judges…

2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3

2 Thessalonians 3 – There is a battle raging against each of us that is unseen. Beneath our daily life a spiritual attack goes on. The spiritual…

2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2 – Lawlessness – contrary or without regard for the law; unruly, unrestrained. The word is found in both the Old and New Testament but…

1 Thessalonians 5

1 Thessalonians 5

1 Thessalonians 5 – When a runner comes toward the end of a race, their entire body screams in pain. Muscles ache, your throat burns and everything…

1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4 – The alarm went off earlier than usual. It was a new day even though pitch black out. I was meeting a friend to…

2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 1 – Tone and text are sometimes hard to differentiate. We receive a text or email that comes across saying one thing and we read…

1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3 – When Paul left Thessalonica there was a mid stop in Berea until trouble broke out. He ended up going to Athens leaving Silas…

Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 1 – It was the capital city of Macedonia. Thessalonica was one of the largest and most important thoroughfares on the Roman highway. From Rome…

Jude 1

Jude 1

Jude 1 – He grew up in the household of Jesus. He knew him through and through. His brother James would eventually become the leader of the early church….

3 John 1

3 John 1

3 John 1 – Paul calls it a gift. Hospitality is right up there as one of the giftsthe Spirit gives out to Believer’s. EveryFollower has at…

2 John 1

2 John 1

2 John 1 – 2 words – spoken often and used quite a bit in today’s age but seldom practiced: Truth and Love. Almost like an endangered species,…

1 John 5

1 John 5

1 John 5 – “You guys teach too much on obedience.” The words hung in the air. “It’s all I hear week after week, ‘We must be obedient…

1 John 4

1 John 4

1 John 4 – I remember the meeting well. Almost 20 years ago a woman whom I did not know called and said she had a word…

1 John 3

1 John 3

1 John 3 – My goodness, this chapter is chock full of so many incredible truths. Statement after statement rings out about the love of God through…

1 John 2

1 John 2

1 John 2 – Sin is inevitable. It afflicts us over and over again. Yet this is not a license to simply let it have its way. We…

1 John 1

1 John 1

1 John 1 – He had walked with Him. He was known as the ‘one Jesus loved’. A part of the inner circle of 3, John was…

Job 42

Job 42

Job 42 – We live in a fallen world.Believers andunbelievers are both inundated with the consequences of sin. Our God is not indifferent;Hes not uncaring…

Job 41

Job 41

Job 41 – Job 40 spoke of a Behemoth. A large unusual animal that does not exist today. The discussion on this animal is wide ranging as to what…

Job 40

Job 40

Job 40 – Weve probably all done it. Things didnt go well. We didnt get our way. We lost the promotion. The sickness led to death. Finances turned downward….

Job 39

Job 39

Job 39 – Its almost like Dr. Doolittle, the old story originally written in the 1920s who as most of us remember, talked to the animals. Here God, begins…

Job 38

Job 38

Job 38 – Finally… God speaks! For 35 chapters, God has been absent from the story. Oh yes, Job and his friends spoke of Him, but He did not…

Job 37

Job 37

Job 37 – For 37 chapters God allowed the storm to rage against Job. From the opening, as the curtains beyond our world into the heavenlies were cracked to…

Job 36

Job 36

Job 36 – Commentators point out there is a shift in Elihus words toward the end of this chapter. Yes, its possible hes running out of steam but there…

Job 35

Job 35

Job 35 – Paul and Silas sat in the heart of the dark damp prison. They had arrived at Philippi and immediately gone to the river to meet with…

Job 34

Job 34

Job 34 – Weve heard the saying “You reap what you sow.” To state it another way in well known verse, “What goes around, comes around.” Paul wrote in…

Job 33

Job 33

Job 33 – Elihu jumps in with full steam. Hes less formal than the others, even callingJob by name. We see coming through his words moments of sheer pride…

Job 32

Job 32

Job 32 – Jobs 3 friends have gone silent. It almost appears to have grown to a face off on the matter. Convinced he had some hidden sin and…

Job 31

Job 31

Job 31 – In what is the lengthiest response of Job yet, he declares his innocence hitting aspects of human nature and desire. Boldly he tells of how hes…

Job 30

Job 30

Job 30 – The emotional pain and rawness of Job is on full display. As he walked back into his past and what life had been like, he turns…

Job 29

Job 29

Job 29 – In remembrance of days gone by, Job revisits how life used to be. These were the glory days for him. From his words, it appears he…

Job 28

Job 28

Job 28 – In such beautiful words and excellent thought, Job paints the earth as a treasure trove of riches and wonder if they are willing to dig for…

Job 27

Job 27

Job 27 – In an interesting discourse, Jobmaintains his innocence while pleading with God. Throughout his responses back to these men and his thoughts made known, he has stated…

Job 26

Job 26

Job 26 – From the moment Jobs 3 friends opened their mouths, it was like a broken record. They said the same thing over and over. Its either they…

Job 25

Job 25

Job 25 – Sometimes theres nothing left to say. Sometimes conversations come to an impasse, a screaming halt. It seems the 3 friends of Job have done just that….

Job 24

Job 24

Job 24 – Weve all been there. We look upon those who are wicked, the people who seemingly get away with complete defiance to the ways of God; we…

Job 23

Job 23

Job 23 – In the book of Deuteronomy God is first called a Consuming Fire.” The book of Hebrews reiterates this phrase. Consider the phrase a moment – theres…

Job 22

Job 22

Job 22 – The third and final round begins between Job and his friends. The first cycle his friends spoke in generalities, without making their doctrine specifically to Job…

Job 21

Job 21

Job 21 – Suffering reveals many things to us. It pulls back the reality of where our trust is. It shows how we cope. It breaks down and drives…

Job 20

Job 20

Job 20 – I havent seen the movie in years, but what I recall from Ray Bradburys novel turned film, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” involves a traveling carnival,…

Job 19

Job 19

Job 19 – In ancient Israel, one who was called a redeemer was family member who bought and paid for a slaves freedom. As read in the book of…

Job 18

Job 18

Job 18 – “Death where is your sting?” – 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hes been called the Grim Reaper, the Angel of Death – An image even of foreboding being…

Job 17

Job 17

Job 17 – When we are in crisis, when it seems everything weve built our hopes upon tumble, its hard to keep the right perspective. These moments show up…

Job 16

Job 16

Job 16 – What kind of friend are you when it comes to comforting another? Ive seen and experienced all kinds who have tried to be a comforter. There…

Job 15

Job 15

Job 15 – The first round of these friends advising Job ended and now the second round hits and is more direct and harsh. Eliphaz opens his mouth and…

Job 14

Job 14

Job 14 – I remember sitting at a conference in a large stadium. The speaker at one point said to imagine a long wire stretched from one end of…

Job 13

Job 13

Job 13 – The absolute trust Job has in God despite the afflictions he continues to deal with, the friends that are off base in their advice, the unanswered…

Job 12

Job 12

Job 12 – Job has had enough. These so called friends of his have all taken their first round of criticizing. His rebuttal drips sarcasm. In essence, his words…

Job 11

Job 11

Job 11 – The third friend of Job finally responds and boy – its a doozy. Although Zophar only has a few places hes found talking to Job, he…

Job 10

Job 10

Job 10 – They stand in a Hall of Fame recorded within Scripture. Being inducted to such a well known place though is not somethingI would want. However if…

Job 9

Job 9

Job 9 – Back in college I used to have a roommate who told me when he was frustrated with God, would cuss Him out. Yes, you read that…

Job 8

Job 8

Job 8 – Bildad, Jobs second friend now speaks. Talk about a windbag. Hes blunt, unsympathetic, and has made up his mind as to why Job suffers. With friends…

Job 7

Job 7

Job 7 – There is a strange phenomenon the older you get. It feels like time flies faster than it ever did. Like, its crazy actually. Years at times…

Job 6

Job 6

Job 6 – Eliphazs advice was as filling as the whites of an egg. Tasteless and devoid of flavor, his words certainly did not give him any strength. Almost…

Job 5

Job 5

Job 5 – “I told you so…” Imagine sitting in the wreckage of some situation, where you are doing everything you can to keep your head up and a…

Job 4

Job 4

Job 4 – Its easy to weigh in on a matter from a distance. We look at the circumstances, the facts presented through word and observation and make decisions…

Job 3

Job 3

Job 3 – Theres a childrens rhyme put to song that says: O be careful little eyes what you see O be careful little eyes what you see Theres…

Job 2

Job 2

Job 2 – Adversity shows where our faith truly lies and destroys the superficial. For others, it strengthens faith and pushes people to dig their feet deep in their…

Job 1

Job 1

Job 1 – Why do the righteoussuffer? Its the age old question that continues to be bounced around in thought and debate. Its the oldest book of the Bible….

Ezra 10

Ezra 10

Ezra 10 – The book of Ezra opens with the people of Israel in captivity, the temple in ruins.  As the story unfolds, Ezra recounts the return. There were…

Ezra 9

Ezra 9

Ezra 9 – After a 4 month, dangerous journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, Ezra arrived to find things not as he had thought.  A culture of compromise within his own…

Ezra 8

Ezra 8

Ezra 8 – Ezra and the people traveled over 900 miles on foot.  Seriously, just consider that statement alone!  This journey took them through many types of climate and…

Ezra 7

Ezra 7

Ezra 7 – There is a gap of 60 some years between chapter 6 and 7.  It was during these 60 that the wonderful story of Esther took place…

Ezra 6

Ezra 6

Ezra 6 – It’s almost like a footnote. As a refresher of the story, the people surrounding were having a fit because the Temple of God was being rebuilt in…

Ezra 5

Ezra 5

Ezra 5 – There are times when it feels like nothing is happening.  There are other times when it feels like God’s purposes and ways have been sidelined.  We…

Ezra 4

Ezra 4

Ezra 4 – Obstacles are a part of life.  We run into many of these in every situation we face.  When we are doing the work of God, fulfilling…